:List of France national football team captains

The first captain of the France national team was Fernand Canelle, who captained the national team in its first international match against Belgium on 1 May 1904.{{cite web | title = Interesting and curious facts about full internationals and national players (1901-1910) | url = http://www.iffhs.de/?3f4b05ffcd85bcca952bda55205fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeeda01f | publisher = International Federation of Football History & Statistics | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 26 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526114241/http://www.iffhs.de/?3f4b05ffcd85bcca952bda55205fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeeda01f | url-status = live }}{{cite web | title = 01/05/1904 Equipe de France A – Amical | url = http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=540 | publisher = French Football Federation | access-date = 23 January 2011 | language = fr | archive-date = 29 July 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120729095736/http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=540 | url-status = live }} Canelle went on to captain France only once more in a 7–0 defeat to Belgium in 1905.{{cite web | title = 07/05/1905 Equipe de France A – Amical | url = http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=542 | publisher = French Football Federation | access-date = 23 January 2011 | language = fr | archive-date = 29 July 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120729095702/http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=542 | url-status = live }} The team's next captain was Pierre Allemane, who had previously captained a team representing France at the 1900 Summer Olympics. However, this occurred when the team was under the supervision of the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA), a federation sports union that supported amateur sport. Under the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) governing body, Allemane is the only French player to wear the armband in all of his national team appearances.{{Cite news|url=http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/79-pierre-allemane|title=Pierre Allemane FFF Profile (in French)|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174340/http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/79-pierre-allemane|url-status=live}} Aside from Canelle and Allemane, Gaston Barreau, René Bonnet, Étienne Jourde, and Robert Lemaître are the only other players to ever captain the national team on their debuts.{{cite news|url=http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/110-gaston-barreau|title=Gaston Barreau FFF Profile|publisher=French Football Federation|language=fr|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313023028/http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/110-gaston-barreau|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/525-etienne-jourde|title=Étienne Jourde FFF Profile|publisher=French Football Federation|language=fr|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313033637/https://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/525-etienne-jourde|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/582-robert-lemaitre|title=Robert Lemaître FFF Profile|publisher=French Football Federation|language=fr|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313024639/http://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/582-robert-lemaitre|url-status=live}} Bonnet's captaincy is notable due in part to the fact that it was his only appearance with the national team.{{cite news|url=https://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/174-rene-bonnet|title=René Bonnet FFF Profile|publisher=French Football Federation|language=fr|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313032303/https://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/174-rene-bonnet|url-status=live}} The first player to captain France in a major international competition while playing under FIFA was André François. He led the team at the football tournament in the 1908 Summer Olympics and captained France to the worst loss in national team and competition history, a 17–1 loss to Denmark.{{cite news |title=22/10/1908 Equipe de France A |url=http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=551 |publisher=French Football Federation |access-date=31 March 2011 |language=fr |archive-date=29 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729105518/http://www.fff.fr/servfff/fiche_joueur_new/match.php?id_match=551 |url-status=live }} One of the first permanent captains of the national team was Jean Ducret.{{cite news |title=Real "Head Work" in European Football |newspaper=Boys' Life Magazine |date=October 1914 |page = 28 }} He captained the team 13 times between 1910 and 1914.{{cite news|url=https://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/354-jean-ducret|title=Jean Ducret FFF Profile|publisher=French Football Federation|language=fr|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313030009/https://www.fff.fr/equipes-de-france/tous-les-joueurs/fiche-joueur/354-jean-ducret|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box | width=30% | align=right | quote= "There’s nothing more beautiful than the national team and I appreciated every cap, be it the first, 50th or 100th. But yes, my proudest moment is that victory and that team, because we could overcome any obstacle, hated defeat and always stepped onto the pitch to win. It was a privilege to captain that team." |source= Didier Deschamps on captaining the France team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web | url = http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/qanda/262/article.aspx | work = FourFourTwo | title = Didier Deschamps | date = 3 June 2010 | access-date = 5 April 2011 | archive-date = 26 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101226063347/http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/qanda/262/article.aspx | url-status = live }} }}

Alexandre Villaplane captained France in its first FIFA World Cup match in 1930 and went on to captain the team in the entire tournament.{{cite web | title = World Cup 1930 | url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/feature?id=696757&cc=5901&ver=us | publisher = ESPN | date = 10 November 2009 | access-date = 8 June 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026020450/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/feature?id=696757&cc=5901&ver=us | archive-date = 26 October 2012 }} Maurice Cottenet was the first goalkeeper to captain the national team. Alex Thépot was the second and bore the armband at the 1934 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news |title=Alex Thépot FFF Profile |url=http://www.fff.fr/individus/selections/visu_fiche.php?in_no=874&id_cat=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729093037/http://www.fff.fr/individus/selections/visu_fiche.php?id_cat=1&in_no=874 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2012 | publisher=French Football Federation|access-date=31 March 2011 | language = fr}} The team's first captain after World War II was Alfred Aston. Aston captained the team for the first time in its first match following the conclusion of the war, a 3–1 win over Belgium on Christmas Eve 1944, and subsequently led the team out six more times. Following Aston, the captaincy was rotated among striker Jean Baratte and defenders Roger Marche and Robert Jonquet. Marche and Jonquet alternated the armband at the 1954 and 1958 editions of the FIFA World Cup. Following the retirement of Baratte, Marche took primary control of the captaincy and guided the team until his international retirement in 1960. The former Stade de Reims defender held the record of captaining France the most until he was surpassed by Michel Platini in 1986. Platini is the first France captain to lead the team to victory in a major international competition. He accomplished this feat at UEFA Euro 1984. In 2000, Platini was surpassed by Didier Deschamps, who captained France to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1998.{{cite news | title = Lemerre's plea to Deschamps | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/818053.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 3 July 2000 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 7 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140907083752/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/818053.stm | url-status = live }} Deschamps surpassed Platini during UEFA Euro 2000 in the team's semi-final match against Portugal. France won the match, 2–1. In the final, France defeated Italy, giving Deschamps his second major honour as captain.{{cite magazine|title=World champs top Italy for Euro 2000 crown |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2000/euro2000/news/2000/07/02/fra_ita_ap/ |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=8 July 2000 |access-date=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907045712/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2000/euro2000/news/2000/07/02/fra_ita_ap |archive-date=September 7, 2008 }} Deschamps was succeeded by Marcel Desailly, who ranks second in captaining France the most. Desailly captained France to victory at both the 2001 and 2003 editions of the FIFA Confederations Cup.{{cite news|title=Marcel Desailly FFF Profile |url=http://www.fff.fr/individus/selections/visu_fiche.php?in_no=312&id_cat=1 |publisher=French Football Federation |access-date=31 March 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122033905/http://www.fff.fr/individus/selections/visu_fiche.php?in_no=312&id_cat=1 |archive-date=January 22, 2011 }}{{cite web | title = Chelsea's bill hits £37m as Duff signs | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2408119/Chelseas-bill-hits-37m-as-Duff-signs.html | work = The Daily Telegraph | date = 22 July 2003 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 7 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140907081028/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2408119/Chelseas-bill-hits-37m-as-Duff-signs.html | url-status = live }}

From 2004 to 2010, when Raymond Domenech managed the national team, the captaincy regularly alternated between Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane. The former player was given the captaincy first, but handed it over to Zidane when he returned to the team in 2005.{{cite web | title = France take Vieira's lead | url = http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid%3D222070.html | publisher = Union of European Football Associations | date = 3 September 2004 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 26 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026125856/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=222070.html | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | title = Finals bow for Zidane et al | url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=368242&root=worldcup&cc=5901 | publisher = ESPN | date = 17 May 2006 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 24 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024135408/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=368242&root=worldcup&cc=5901 | url-status = dead }} Zidane subsequently wore the armband at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and became the first French captain and just the fourth player in association football history to be sent off in a World Cup final match.{{cite web | title = Zidane ends World Cup career with head butt, red card | url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-07-09-zidane-red-card_x.htm | work = USA Today | date = 9 July 2006 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 22 January 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110122125932/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-07-09-zidane-red-card_x.htm | url-status = live }}{{cite news | title = Sent-off Zidane named best player | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5154248.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 July 2006 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 20 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120320023613/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5154248.stm | url-status = live }} Former teammate and captain Marcel Desailly is one of the other three.{{cite news | title = Italy 1–1 France (aet) | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 9 July 2006 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 6 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170906192236/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991652.stm | url-status = live }} Following Zidane's retirement, Vieira was designated captain of the team for its UEFA Euro 2008 campaign, however, injuries hampered his stint as captain and, as a result, defender Lilian Thuram led the team at the competition.{{cite web|title=Thuram - We will find form |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/euro2008/story/0,23063,11966_3654049,00.html |publisher=Sky Sports |date=5 June 2008 |access-date=31 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025032519/http://www.skysports.com/football/euro2008/story/0%2C23063%2C11966_3654049%2C00.html |archive-date=25 October 2008 }} The last permanent captain of the team was the national team's all-time leading goalscorer, Thierry Henry. He first captained the team on 6 February 2008 in a friendly against Spain when he was given the armband following the substitution of Vieira.{{cite news|title=Thierry Henry FFF Profile |url=http://www.fff.fr/individus/selections/visu_fiche.php?in_no=486&id_cat=1 |publisher=French Football Federation |access-date=31 March 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729232241/http://www.fff.fr/individus/selections/visu_fiche.php?in_no=486&id_cat=1 |archive-date=July 29, 2010 }} He held onto the captaincy until a month before the 2010 FIFA World Cup following his relegation to a substitute's role. The armband was given to defender Patrice Evra who led the team at the competition.{{cite web| title = World Cup 2010: France can go all the way, says Patrice Evra | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/10/world-cup-patrice-evra-france | publisher = Guardian Media Group | date = 10 June 2010 | access-date = 31 March 2011 }} Under manager Laurent Blanc, several players made their debuts as captains of the national team. In August 2010, Philippe Mexès captained the team for the first time.{{cite web | title = Mexes named France captain against Norway | url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-friendly-france-mexes-idUKLDE67A21720100811 | publisher = Reuters | date = 11 August 2010 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 1 February 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160201121002/http://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-friendly-france-mexes-idUKLDE67A21720100811 | url-status = dead }} The following month, Florent Malouda made his debut as captain.{{cite web | title = Belarus beats France 1-0 away in Euro qualifier | url = http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/euro2012qualifying/story/french-suffer-home-defeat-to-belarus-in-euro-qualifier | publisher = MSN | date = 3 September 2010 | access-date = 31 March 2011 | archive-date = 7 September 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100907163558/http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/euro2012qualifying/story/french-suffer-home-defeat-to-belarus-in-euro-qualifier | url-status = live }} In November, Hugo Lloris became the ninth goalkeeper in national team history to wear the armband. Kylian Mbappé is now captain as of March 21, 2023.

Appearances and matches captained are composed of FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Football Championship, FIFA Confederations Cup, and pre-World Cup Summer Olympics matches and each competition's required qualification matches, as well as numerous international friendly tournaments and matches. Players are initially listed by number of matches captained, followed by number of international caps attained. If the number of matches captained and the number of caps earned are equal, then the player who captained the national team first is listed first. Statistics correct as of 20 March 2025.

File:2020-03-10 Fußball, Männer, UEFA Champions League Achtelfinale, RB Leipzig - Tottenham Hotspur 1DX 3687 by Stepro (cropped).jpg holds the record for most captaincies with France and has captained them to victory at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.]]

File:Michel Platini in Wroclaw by Klearchos Kapoutsis tight crop.jpg captained France to victory at UEFA Euro 1984.|alt=An elderly dark-haired man wearing a black jacket and white dress shirt.]]

File:MarcelDesailly.JPG captained France national football team to victory at both the 2001 and 2003 editions of the FIFA Confederations Cup.|alt=A dark-skinned man wearing a black jacket.]]

File:Zinedine Zidane by Tasnim 01.jpg captained France to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.]]

File:Lilian Thuram - Février 2013.jpg captained France at UEFA Euro 2008.|alt=A dark-skinned man wearing a black fleece]]

File:Laurent blanc 11 11 2013 reves de Clara.jpg has captained France nine times.|alt=A dark-haired man wearing a white shirt.]]

File:Eric Cantona Cannes 2009.jpg captained France from 1993 to 1995.|alt=A dark-haired man wearing a black jacket, white shirt, and black tie.]]

File:Patrick Vieira.jpg captained France infrequently from 2004 until retirement.|alt=A dark-skinned man wearing a black jacket and white dress shirt.]]

File:Thierry Henry Arsenal U19s Vs Olympiacos (cropped).jpg was the national team's captain from 2008 to 2010.|alt=A dark-skinned man wearing a coat]]

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{{unreferenced section|date=September 2019}}

• List of France international footballers
• List of leading goalscorers for the France national football team

{{Reflist}}

• {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/accueil.php Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531061637/http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/accueil.php |date=2012-05-31 }}

{{France national football team}}

{{Football in France}}

{{featured list}}

captains

France

Category:Association football player non-biographical articles